Theater switchboard



H. J. L. FRANK THEATER SWITQHBOARD Filed Oct. 26,

Sespfi: 8, 1925.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GU 0: vie q I sept. 8, 1925.

H. J. L. FRANK THEATER SWITCHBOARD 1921 2 sheets sheat 2 Filed Oct. 26

Fatenled ent. 8, i925;

iii-limo. SEATES 1,552,421 PATENT ,QFFICE.

HAREISQN J, L. FRANK, F DETIRGIT, MICHIGAN, ABSIGNDR TU MUTUAL ELECTRIC AND MACHHTE QQME'AITY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 01 W'EST VZWINIA.

' THEATER SWZ'IGHBOABD;

Appiicatiou Mad Qotober 28, 1921. Serial No. 510,597.

To all whom it oamemi:

Be it known that i, Hmxuson 5. L. FRANK, sv citizen oi the United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne 5 and State of Michigan have invented s new and Improved Theater Switchboard, of which the following is o, speoiiication.

This invention relates to switch boards which are employed to control the lighting .19 of the stages of theaters and other spaces where the lights are changed st. intervals in a. predetermined manner tothe illuminstion of the scenery and the persons occupying? such spaces, and its objecii is to provide a series of switch operating devices which can be so adjusted and so connected in advance wiihout affecting the illumination already in use that the complete operation of a-single lever will bring into action any desi 'ed inopersiive lights and put out of action any of the iights in operation before the desired change which are not to be used sfter the change; and to leave unnfiectod such lights ass are-to so remain in use.

This inventionjjoonsists of e series of switches in group and a sontrol level for iho'group adapted to be moved forward and. bseliwm'd, an operating handle foi' each switch adapted to move forward and backward to opemte'the switch, means connected to the control lever and to the operating hendies, and means on the operatinghandles adopted to be positioned so as to operatively engage the connecting means actuated by the 35 control lever on either the forward or backward movements of the eon'ti'ol lever, or both said movements or neither of them, as may be desired, so than the opera-ting handles i will move with the control lever 01' remain stationary as may be desired, 1 i

The invention also consists in means op eratively connecting he oonti ol levers and ,Lmasior lever for simultaneously va-ctimting! the control levers.

In; further consists in the details of Construction illustx'a'tod in the accompanying 'dz'swings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the. drawings, Fig. l is s front eleva- 50 tion oi eswitoh boo d embodying the pres entinvention. Fi is elevation pair switches K210i ed on the back: of the board a elevation of n operating handle s side elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is asection on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sections on the line 645 of Fig. 3, showing jahe parts in three dill'erent positions. Fig; 9 is a side elevation of a switch. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a control lever.

Similar referenee characters refer to like .psrts throughout the several views.

The switch board 1 shown in'the draw mgs is of usual form and on its i'ear'side are anydesirod number of switches of any desired type, adapted to be opened and closed by Operating handles. In Figs. 2 and 9 I have illustrated a switch which is adapted for the present purpose and consists of a 'braoket 3 attached to the board and carryng a. pin 4 for a lever 5. 'A link 6 extends these terminals and 1G to the currentsource and to the lights served by the switch. In Fig. 2 I, have shown fiat strips 17 connecting to ihe terminal 15,.while in Fig. 9 I have shown the conductor ends 18. A stop 19 inay be attached to the board 1 to engage wsmall plate 20 on the block 10 to limit its inward movement.

The advantage of this switch lies in the fact that when open and swung out -the fuses and all other exposed parts have no current so that a person passing the board is in no danger of injury from current in those parts which project from the board. Mounted on the board 1 are any desired numberbf shafts 22 supported by the bearings 23, and a control level 24 is connected to each shaft. Mounted on the shaft are a number of operating arms 25 each having two perforated lugs 26 and 27 in which the handle pin 28 is vertically slidable. The link 6 which connects to the switch is pivoted on'the pin 29 mounted on this arm 25. Adjacent each operating handle is a collar 30 attached to the shaft 22 in any desired man- 181, a set screw 3:2 being shown and this who? muy be prgivided with hard bearing cushions 35 adapted down on this washer and strips 33. A notch 34 is formed in this collar to receive the lower end of the pin 28 and this collar is also provided with two to engage the stop bar 36 which extends along near the board 1 between the bearings 23. A spring 37 may be attached to the shoulder 38 on this collar and is adapted to frictionally engage this bar 36 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8, when the operating handle is swung out to switch-closing position. These collars always move with the shaft and tubular spaces 39 may be mounted on the shaft to prevent endwise movement of the operating handles.

On the handle pin 28 is a washer 41 resting on a pin 42 and the spring 43 presses pin 42. On the pin 28 above the lug 26 is a collar 44 having a slot/15 through which the positioning pin 46 extends at right angles to the handle pin 28. A spring 47 attached to the end of the arm 25 is adapted to enter the notches ,48 in the upper end of this collar 44.- See Fig. 5. A

I handle 49 is on the upper end of the handle pin and the lower en of this pin is beveled as shown in Fig. 8.

The lug 26 is preferably marked with the words Off, Pos, ()n and Ind. to indicate that when the positioning pin is over the word Off, which brings the handle pin to the position shown in Fig. 4.- against a stop 50, rotation of the shaft by the control 10 ver and the collar 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow in"Fig'. 41 will cause the shoulder 51 on. the collar to engage the handle pin 28 and the operating lever to swing out and pull out the link 6.- and thereby open the switch connected thereto. On the reverse movement of the controll ever the shoulder 52 of this collar engages the beveled face 53 of the lower end of the handle pin and lifts it without swinging it. All further reciprocations of the collar 30 will have no effect on this operating handle which remains swung out. If then a light or group of lights controlled by that particular operating handle is to" be cut out at the next change of lights, the pin 46 is positioned at Off.

V hen the lights controlled by any switch are to be left on or active, the pin 46 of that particular operating handle is swung to ()n position, as indicated in Fig. 7. Any outward movement of the collar 30 will cause its shoulder 51 to lift the pin 28 through engagement with the inclined face 53 of the end. of the pin. but the operating handle will not move. Should the handle have been swung out. its pin will drop into the notch 34 ofthe adjacent collar just as soon as the collar has been swung out, the return movement of the lever 2 and the shaft 22 serving to carry this handle to switclrclosing position when the lights are changed. All handles move to or remain in switch-closing position.

in the @n position always eithcr' lV hen the pin 46 is moved to Pos. position, which is half way between On and Oil, the end of the pin 28 is so located (as shown in Fig. 6) that neither shoulder 51 or has any engagement with the inclined surface 53. The .result 18 that the operating handle moves with the control lever andthe lights controlled thereby go on or off as the control lever is swung toward or from the board 1.

I have shown a cam 54 formed on the upper end of the arm 25 and a ledge at the upper end thereof, on which the pin 46 is adapted to rest and hold the handle pin 28 entirely out of the notch 34. This independent or Ind. position permits this operating handle to be moved at will without affecting or being affected by the other handles or levers.

It will be noticed that the beveled face 53 is in two planes meeting at an angle of about 120 degrees. See Figs. 6 and 8. This results from the stops &8 for Off and On being 19.0 degrees apart. The lug 26 is preferably formed with a groove 56 at the Pos. stop in order to permit a slightly greater downward movement of the handle pin, as shown in Fig. 6. The collar 44 does not move up or down but the pin 46 is vertically movable in the slot 45. An oil hole is indicated at 57. The handles 49 may be used to move the pins 16 around if desired, and any one of the operating handles positively connected to a shaft 22, as indicated in Fig. (3, may be used to operate that shaft and the handles thereon. A tell-tale light 58 for each switch and handle may be mounted just above the handle and a card 59 for the names of the lights may be attached to the board adjacent thereto.

A master lever 61 may be mounted on a short shaft 62 carried by bearings 63 on the board 1 and a crank 64 onthis shaft may have a bolt (35 connecting to av bar 66. On each shaft 22 is an additional collar 67, an operating arm 68, and a handle 16.) of' tlic same construction shown in Figs. 3 to 8, connected to a pin which again engages in a notch in the collar 67 or is entirely free therefrom as may be desired. The bar 66 is attached to each operating arm 68 by a bolt 69 and the actuation of the master lever 61 will then result in actuations or positioning of any of the groups of the several and in the lower arm of vliti- The details of construction and arrangethe some in the art Without departing the spiiit of my invention as set forth will the following claims;

" Thus, the equivalentof the pins 28 might n'loonted in the collars and sockets ltil ltetl' on the arms 25, to ='rcceivc' these the pins being rotatable as above (lest? or: the socket formed with theproper ethical shoulders whichmay be positioned an mm to. 1

ntice levelled to the form'of the (le- 3'7 at free ends of the springs nah attached to the polite 38 of the tool arms 25. I prefer the bar 36 to he in the form of e channel with its flanges extending lZOVFfiZ'Cl the switch-boqrd so that. when the spying is sowing uoaaaindica'ted dotted. lines in Fig. 8, the (latent will engage over the lower flange of the channel her. The advantage of this chemical is that the detent has a better grip' and this holds the switch open. The sum of the resistances of ell. these springs is considerable so. that when the operator begins to push a'contl'ol lever 2% toward the switch-hoard to close the predetermined switches, this resistance will. require him to exertconsiclemhle force. But

when this resistance is overcome and surloienly ceases, the forceapplied'to the lever continues end the level 24, is' moved to ewitchclosifng position et,grcut speed, which very desirable in oltfll? to'reduce arcing Ell) the switch contacts es much as possible,

in. addition thereto this momentum of the switches and of the operator (EOIKl'lJCQS'tO con'zplete closing of the switches. These springs also prevent undesired movements of the switches enci'their control arms due to the friction the pins'ilS on the collars 3!) anti hold these arms and switches in proper position to he connected to the operating waits anal control levers.

l claim 2 3;. in o switch-hoard, a shaft, a lever to turn the shaft'beck and forth, a switch op crating arm rototehle on the shaft, a pin slidehlv mounted in said arm, a spring to press the pin toward the shaft, av collar ottochecl to the shaft and having a notch to rereive one end of the pin, said end of the pin having an incl incd face which. when engo-gred by a -Wall of the notch, will cause the pin to be lifted out of the notch to perinit the shaft to turn 'indepemlently'of the "avian in one direction; zincl. means to with- (lrwav the pin from said notch.

2. In a. switch-board. :1 shaft, :1 lever to turn the shaft back zmtl forth, switch 0} (amt-inc, arm rotatable on the shaft, a, pin 's-ilidohly mounted in said arm and having an inclined taco. it spring: to press the"pin to word the shaft,'e collar attached to the shaft and having it notch to twelve oneend of exts may all be changed by.

the pin, and means to turn the in to give sent said inclined face to/theifront' or ba'cl: Wall of the notch or position it tmnsvcx'sely to said "wells.

3. In a switch-hoard, a controlling member, means to move it back and forth, a series of switch-operating devices, .a' mama-- ally operable positioning device for each operatingmleviceymeans to hold each of said. positioning devices in any one of four positions, and a connector for each switchwpcn atingz device adapted to be positioned by the manually operable device to cause said switch-operating: 'clevice to move with the controlling member-(lnring one or the other or both of the movements thereof; or to be entirely disengaged therefrom.

4-. In a, switch-booed, a controlling shaft, a lever to turn it back and forth through limited arcs, a series of switch-operating devices mounted on the shaft, it manually operable positioning device for each switchooerating device. means to hold each positioning device in-enyone of four positions, and. a pinmounterl on each switch-operating device adapted to be positioneci by the manually onerahle device to cause saicl switclm operzgting device to move with the shaft (lur ing one or the other or both of the n1ovemonts of said shaft or to be entirely unaf-' footed thereby.

5. In av switch, a, shaft, 21 leverto turn the shaft back and -forth, a switch-operating arm rotatable on the shaft. :1 'pin slidahly mounted in suicl' arm, a spring to pros-s the pin toward the shaft, a handle on the outer enzl of the pin, and a collar attached to the shaft and having a notch to receive one cml of the win, seizi end of the pinhnvinrx an inclined face which, when engaged by a wall of the notch, will cause the pin to he lifted to permit the shaft to turn independently of said switch-operating arm.

6. In a switch, a shaft, a lever to turn the shaft hack and forth, a switoh-operating arm rotatable on the shaft, 21 pin slill- 1 ably mounted in said am, a spring to press the pin toward the shaft, a. handle on the outer end of the pin, a collar attached to the shaft and having a notch to receive one end of the pin, soiil end of the pin having an inclined face which, when engaged by a wall of the notch, will cause the pin to be lifted to permit'the shaft to turn independently of sui l-switchmperating arm. and a Spring mounted on the switch-operating arm to hold the pinto present the inclined face thereon tothe desired wall of said notch.

7, In a switch-hoard. a plurality ot'shafts and bearings therefor, o lever to turn each shaft back and forth, a group of switch-' operating arms on each shaft, means to mueeeaeh arm to move with its shaft during. one or the other or both of the move mentsof the shaft it tlesircd, a master lever members to adapted to move forward and backward, an additional control'arm on each shaft, means connecting the master lever to each control arm, and means to connect each control arm to its shaft to move the shaft With. the master lover during one or the other or both of its movements if desired. 7

8. The combination of i a plurality of men'ibers each adapted to be moved in two directions and a connecting device between them susceptible of a plurality of operative posit-ions, one of said positions permitting independent operations of the members and another of said positions compelling said members to move together in both directions.

9. The combination of an operatingmenther and an operated member, and a connecting device between them susceptible of a series of positions, one of said positions permitting independent operations of the two members, a second position compelling both act together, and a third position compelling the nicn'ibers to act together when the operating member moves in one direction and permitting the operating member to move in the opposite direction without adecting the operated member, said operations being: predetermined by the positioninp; of the connecting device in advance of said operations. I

10. The combination of operatingand operated members and a connecting device between them adapted to be given a series of positions, one of said positions permitting independent operation of the two memhers and two other positions compelling the members to act together when the operating member moves in either one or the other direction respectively but without affecting the operated member when the operating member moves in the opposite direction, said operations being predetermined by the positioning of the connecting device in advance of said movements.

'11. The combination of operating and operated members and a connecting device be tween them adapted to be given a series of positions, one of said positions con' pclling both members to move" ip ether nod-"five other positions compelling -the operated member to move with the operating membar when that moves in either one direction or the other respectively but without ail'ect ing the operated member when the'operating member moves in the opposite direction in either case, said operations being predetermined by the positioning of the connect ing device in advance of said movements.

12. The combination of a control lever and a switch, and a connecting device between them adapted to be given a series of positions, one of. said positions permitting a the switch to be operated independently of the control lover, a second position causing the switch tobe opened and closed with the forward and backward movements of the control lover, a third position causing the switch to be opened with one movement of the control lever and rcmainopen during all siibsequcnt movements thereof, and a fourth 'position causing the switch to be closed With one movement of the control lever and remain closed during all subsequent movements of the control lever, said operations being predetermined by the positioning of the connecting device in advance of said movements of the control lever.

13. The combination of a control lover and a switch, and a connecting device between them adapted to be given a series of positions, one of said positions permitting the switch to be operated independently of the control lcvcr, a second posit-ion causing the switch to be opened and closed with the forward and ln clnvard movements of the control lcvcr, arid if third. position causing the switch to be pencil with oncmovement of the, control "lever and remain open dn'ring all subsequent movements of the control lever, said operations being" predetermined by the positioning of the connecting device in advance of said movcn'ici'its of the control lever.

14. The combination of a control. lever and a switch and a connecting device be tween them adapted to in given a series of positions, one of said positions causing the switch to be opened and closed with. the

forward and backward movements of the",

ever, a second position causing: the

control. switch to bc opcncd with one movement of the control lover and remain open during all subsequent movements thereof, and a third position closed with one movement of the control lever and remain closed during all sirbscqncnt movements of the control lever, said operations being prcdctcrmincd by the positioning of the connecting device in ad vauce of said movements oi the control lover.

15. The combination of a control lover and a switch and a coi'inccting device between them adapted to be given a scrics positions, one of said positions PLllniiti'flfZ the switch to be operated independently the control lever, a second position causing the switch to be opened and closed with the forward and backward movements of the control lever, and a third position causing the Switch to ho closcd with one lnovcmcnt of the control lever-and remain closed dur inc all subsequent movcments o'l thc'control lever, said operations being prodetcrmincd by the. positioning of the connecting device in advance of the said movements of the control lever.

16. The combination of a control lever causing-thc switch to be" and e switch and a connecting clevice between their adapted to be givcfi a series of positions, one of said positions permitting the switch to be operated independently of the control lever, e. second position causing the switch to be opened with one movement of the control lever remain so luring all subsequent movements thereof, and a thircl position causing the switch to be closed with one movement of the control lever and remain closed during all subsequent movcments of the control lever, said operations being predetermined; by the positioning of the connecting clcvicecvin advance of said movements of the control, lever. I

'17. In a switchboard, a shaft, a lever to turn the shaft back and forth, a switch opersting arm rotatable on the shaft, 3 pin sii ably mounted in said arm, a spring to press the pin toward the shaft, a collar attached to the shaft and having a notch to receive one end of the pin, means to withdraw the pin from said notch, a stationarybcr e ljacent said shaft to limit the movements of said arm, and a resilient member mounted on said arm and, adapted to engage said bar when the'arm has been moved to the limit of one of its movements.

18. In a SV/ltQlPbOfll'ti, a shaft, means to turn the shaft back and forth, a switch operating arm rotatable on the shaft, a collar.

attached to the shaft. resilient means to connect said arm to said collar, means to clisconncct the arm and collar, a stationary bar adjacent Sillil shaft to limit the movements oi saiil arm, and a resilient member mounted on said arm and adapted to engage the bar to hold said arm at the end of one of its movements.

19. In, .1 switch-board, a shaft, a lever to turn the shaft back and forth, a switch operating arm rotatable on the shaft, :1 pin slidoblv mounted in said arm, aspringkto press the pin toward the shaft, a collar attachcrl to the shaft and having a notch to receive one end of the pin, means to with draw the pin from said notch, a stationary, ini'lcpcnilcixtly-lnountul stop member to limit the movements of the switch-0persting arm,

and resilient means connecting the switch operating arm and the stop member to hold them together, v I

. 20. In a switchboard, a shaft, means. to turn the shaftbacl: and forth, a switch-op eratin member mounted on the shaft, means to connect and disconnect the switch-operating member and shaft, a, stationary, indepemlentl'j -mountcd stop member to limit the movements ,of the switchr'op erating member, a mi means connecting the switch-operating membcrancl the stop member to holcl themto gcther.

tween them adapted to be given a series of 2L The combination of operating and operated members and a connecting clcvicc be switch operating positions, one of said positions compelling both members to move together and two other positions ccinncliing the operated member to move with ihc operating member when that moves in either one direction or the other respectively but Withoutailectinc; the opcratccl member when the operating; member izioves in the oppoite direction in either case, sold operations being predctcrmined. by the positioning of the connecting device in advance of said movements, and a switch for each of said operstecl members comprisin stationery contacts, conductors connected thereto, a movable support, in" sulatecl contacts mounted thereon and connecting the insulated contacts, said movable contact and fuses icing electrically (lisconnected from the conductors when the switch is open.

The combinationv of a control lever and a switch, a connecting device between iZ-ilCIX'! adapted to be given a. series of posh tions, one of said positions permitting the switch to be operated indepcntlcnt-ly of the control lever, a second position causing the switch to be opened and closed with the forward and backward movements 03*? the control lever, 11 third. position causing the switch to be opcnec'i with one movement of the control lever and remain open during all subsequent movements thereof and e fourth position causing the switch to be closed with one movement of the control lever and remain closeci during all subsequent movements of the control lever, said operations being predetermined positioning of the connecting device in advance of said movements of the control lever, and. a switch for each of soul operated members comprising stationery contacts, conductors connecteci thereto, a movable support, in sula'tcii contacts mounted thereon and fuses connecting the insulated contacts, said mov able contacts and; fuses being electrically discoiinecteftl'fron thc conductors when the switch is open, 1

23. in a switch boarci, an actuating device and means to move it backward and forward, sncl a switch operating device adjacent. the actuating member and embodying connect it to the actuating member, said connecting means being adapted when in one position to cause t=e operating device to move backward and forward with theactuating device, and when in a second position to cause the operating device to move with the actuating device when that moves forward only, and when in a third position to cause the operating device. to move with the actuating device when that moves beckvv Icl. only. I

2c. in e switch board, it switch and a levicc to open and close the switch, an actuating (levicc therefor adapted to move backward and forward, a

connector adapted to have three positions, one in which 1t causes the swlteh operating device to move n hot] directlons with the actuating de 'ice to open and close said manually operable means to position the connector. v

25. In a switch board, a switch and a sw tch operating device to open and close the switch, an actuating-device therefor adapted to move backward and forward, a connector adapted to have three positions, one in which it causes the device to move in both directions with the actuating device to open and close said switch operating switch, and two other positions in which 20 it causes the switch operating device to move with the actuating device to alone open or close Said switch, and manually operable means to position the connector.

HARRISON J. L. FRANK. 

